2008
(1/05/2008) SMEs Responsible for 110 Million Tonnes of Carbon Emissions Each Year
AXA launches carbon calculator to help SMEs reduce emissions.
Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) generate approximately 110 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year, according to new calculations published today by AXA. In an effort to help small businesses reduce their environmental impact AXA, one of the UK's leading insurers of SMEs, today launched a carbon footprint calculator available free at www.axa4business.co.uk/climate. Created specifically for SMEs it provides a self-assessment tool to enable them to assess and reduce their environmental impact.
The Carbon Footprint Calculator, which is provided in conjunction with The CarbonNeutral Company, takes information about the SME's energy usage, waste and travel - the three main sources of CO2 - and calculates a report on the company's CO2 emissions. The company will also be presented with suggestions of ways to reduce emissions and with the opportunity to offset the carbon footprint.
1Calculated using figures published by the Carbon Trust and Defra. The Carbon Trust estimates that SMEs account for around 20% of total UK carbon dioxide emissions, which according to provisional data for 2007 produced by Defra were 543 million tonnes.
The calculator is supported by a guide, which includes details of proactive measures SMEs can take to reduce and offset their carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.
AXA is concerned that many small businesses are not considering the serious risks of climate change to their business. For example, AXA's own research of businesses in high flood risk areas has found that:
- Only one in three small business leaders feel that the effects of climate change, such as flooding, is a serious threat to their business, despite the average cost of flood damage reaching around £12,000.
- As many as two out of three of small businesses do not have a practical contingency plan in case of being affected by severe weather. 35% of businesses affected by flooding said that they lost 1 - 5 working days as a result.
- Amongst those who have been affected by flooding, 62% have no insurance for business interruption.
Insurance brokers are also concerned by climate change: nearly 70% of brokers in recent AXA research said they cared somewhat or very much about climate change with three quarters of them endorsing the concept of the carbon footprint calculator.
SMEs are the lifeblood of the nation’s economy accounting for 58.9 % of all employment and 51.9% of turnover in the UK and contribute significantly to the nation's carbon footprint. The amount of CO2 produced varies from business to business. The following are examples of three different companies:
- A marketing consultancy in central London with 11 full-time staff calculated it produces 15.9 tonnes of CO2
- A medium-sized car dealership in Somerset with around 50 staff produces 79.44 tonnes per year.
- A provider of risk management solutions based in Dorset with around 60 staff produces 103.56 tonnes.
2BERR SME report 2006
The main factors contributing to the differences between these companies included the amount of travel carried out by employees of the firms, the amounts of waste produced and energy usage. (Comparisons are shown in Notes to Editors).
Doug Barnett, Head of Customer Risk Management at AXA said, "With an estimated 4.5 million small enterprises in the UK, the SME community needs to take responsibility for its impact on the environment and not leave green efforts solely to large corporations. The Carbon Trust estimates that SMEs are responsible for around 20 per cent of all carbon emissions in the UK . By offering SMEs a tool with which to benchmark emissions and a guide containing a range of ideas on how to reduce carbon footprints for a range of budgets we hope to encourage positive action."
Jonathan Shopley, Executive Director, The CarbonNeutral Company, said: "Our experience working with SMEs indicates that they are concerned about the potential resource implications of ‘going green’ in terms of time and cost. This is why we are so pleased to be working with AXA on this Carbon Calculator as it streamlines the process and allows SMEs to take action themselves.
"The Calculator helps SMEs to assess the main sources of carbon dioxide emissions and those businesses that reduce their emissions to net zero through internal and external reductions will be eligible to use the CarbonNeutral®brand mark. "
- Ends -
Enquiries
If you are a journalist and require further information contact:-
Miranda Bellord AXA Insurance press office +44 020 7977 5164
Allyson Da-anoy AXA Insurance press office +44 020 7369 3935
Sharon Corrigan The CarbonNeutral Company +44 020 7833 6016
3Carbon Trust, November 2007
Notes to editors
The carbon calculator will be on view at AXA’s stand, number D2, during the Biba Conference in Glasgow. Doug Barnett will be available to discuss the calculator.
About AXA
AXA UK is a part of the AXA Group. AXA Group is a worldwide leader in Financial Protection. AXA’s operations are diverse geographically, with major operations in Western Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. For full year 2006, IFRS revenues amounted to €79 billion and IFRS underlying earnings amounted to €4,010 million.
The AXA ordinary share is listed and trades under the symbol AXA on the Paris Stock Exchange. The AXA American Depository Share is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA.
Our previous company performance is not a guide to how we may perform in the future.
Any opinions expressed in this media communication are made as at the date of this publication but are subject to change without notice.
The CarbonNeutral Company
The CarbonNeutral Company is the world’s leading carbon offset and climate consulting business, working with over 300 businesses and 50,000+ consumer clients.
CarbonNeutral® is the registered trademark of The CarbonNeutral Company (TCNC) and is the leading brand mark and quality standard for action on climate change. Permission to display the CarbonNeutral mark is only given to clients of TCNC when global warming emissions have been measured, reductions recommended, and the remaining emissions ‘offset’ in accordance with the CarbonNeutral Protocol. This Protocol assures quality of offset projects, and carbon footprint assessments and is regularly reviewed by an Independent Advisory Group. The ‘audit trail’ includes an annual independent verification of CarbonNeutral programmes - from contract with carbon offset partner through to contract with client and everything in between.
For more information please go to www.carbonneutral.com.
| Risk Management Solutions provider, Dorset, 60 staff | Marketing consultancy, London 11 staff |
Car Dealership, Somerset, 50 staff |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | |||
| Floor area | 429.7sqm | 22 | 160 |
| Electricity consumed | 120kwh | 6400 kwh | 61,884 kwh |
| Natural Gas consumed | Nil | 1000 kwh | Nil |
| Heating oil consumed | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Waste disposed to landfill | 1,740kg | 1560kg | 5400kg |
| Waste Incinerated | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Business Travel | |||
| Company Cars | Nil | Nil | 10 |
| Taxi’s | Approx 55 per year | Approx 370 per year | Nil |
| Train’s | Approx 68 per year | Approx 50 per year | Nil |
| Flights | 6 Domestic per year | ||
| Hotels | 72 per year | 5-10 per year | Nil |
| Employee Commuting | |||
| Cars (Petrol/Diesel) | 250,800 miles | Nil | 64,000 miles |
| LPG | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Hybrid | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Electric cars | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Motorbikes | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Taxis | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Buses | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Train | Nil | 99,008 miles | Nil |
| Underground | Nil | 20,000 miles | Nil |
| CO2 Emissions |
103.56 t CO2 Premises - 0.06 Business Travel – 20.17 Commuting – 83.33 |
15.90 t CO2 Premises – 3.8 Business Travel – 0.78 Commuting – 11.32 < |
79.44 t CO2 Premises – 29.59 Business Travel – 28.02 Commuting – 21.49 |